About Hornet Stings

A hornet is a type of wasp that can sting multiple times and nests high in a tree or shrub. Hornets are social insects that nest together with a queen and up to hundreds of workers. They are generally not aggressive to humans unless they feel threatened, but once threatened, they can send a distress signal that calls the other hornets to come out and defend the nest.

Identification

• A hornet sting results in pain, swelling, redness and itching at the site of the sting. It can develop into a red area about 4 inches in diameter over the next day or two.
  A hornet is similar in appearance to a yellow jacket and its effects are likewise comparable. Hornets are usually one-half- to three-quarter-inches long and black and white in color. Their wings fold lengthwise when they rest and they build large, teardrop shaped, mottled grey nests in trees.

Risk Factors

• Social wasps will often work together to protect the nest if they perceive a threat. They release pheromones that alert the nest of danger, causing the entire nest to attack and increasing the chances of suffering multiple stings.Unlike honey bees, hornets can sting repeatedly, which increases their threat to allergic persons.
  The more venom they can inject into the person's body, the more damage the stings will cause.
  In cases of allergic reaction, the person can develop hives, wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, anxiety, swelling of the mouth or throat, weakness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, or chest pain.
  Severe allergic reactions to hornet stings can be fatal if not treated quickly. The victim can suffer anaphylactic shock, which medical personnel can treat with a dose of epinephrine (adrenaline). People who know they are allergic to wasp stings can keep an EpiPen,a self-administered injection pen-shaped tool, in a first aid kit at home in case of emergency.

Misconceptions

• The terms hornet, yellow jacket, and bee are not interchangeable but are distinct species of stinging insects. The term wasp refers to non-bee species of flying insects, most of which sting.
  While hornets and yellow jackets both belong to the Vespidae family, they are distinguishable by color and markings and differ significantly from bees.
  While many people believe that hornets bite rather than sting, they can actually do both at the same time. Also, unlike a honey bee, a hornet does not have a barbed stinger; therefore, it does not die when it stings its victim but can sting over and over again.

Type

• The baldfaced hornet is the most common hornet found in the US. It differs from the yellow jacket with its white and black markings and nesting habits. It builds round paper nests up to 12 inches in diameter usually high in a tree. Usually only aggressive toward people when people threaten its nest, it does not scavenge human food but rather hunts and kills live caterpillars and flies.
  Giant hornets, also called European hornets, are larger than baldfaced hornets at one-inch-long. Their nests appear in hollow trees, attics and walls. Unlike other wasps, they are attracted to lights at night. Like the baldfaced hornets, they are not scavengers and are usually only aggressive in defense of the nest.

Expert Insight

• While most people's first impulse is to destroy a hornet nest, experts recommend a more passive approach. If the nest is located high in a tree where people are unlikely to threaten it, experts suggest leaving it undisturbed. Most of the hornets will die in the winter, and even if the queen survives to start again the following spring, she is unlikely to use the same nest. If the nest resides in a highly-trafficked area, the best method is to attack the nest at night, when all the hornets are inside, and to use commercially available aerosols. However, a person who is allergic to wasps should not attempt to destroy the nest but should contact a professional pest control service.